Teuvo Suntio

Grid-Connected Photovoltaic Generation Plants: Components and Operation

The main design objective of photovoltaic (PV) systems has been, for a long time, to extract the maximum power from the PV array and inject it into the ac grid. Therefore, the maximum power point tracking (MPPT) of a uniformly irradiated PV array and the maximization of the conversion efficiency have been the main design issues. However, when the PV plant is connected to the grid, special attention has to be paid to the reliability of the system, the power quality, and the implementation of protection and grid synchronization functions. Modern power plants are required to maximize their energy production, requiring suitable control strategies to solve the problems related to the partial shading phenomena and different orientation of the PV modules toward the sun. Moreover, the new policy concerning the injection of reactive power into the grid makes the development of suitable topologies and control algorithms mandatory. A general view of actual solutions for applications of the PV energy systems is presented. This article covers several important issues, including the most reliable models used for simulation, which are useful in the design of control systems, and the MPPT function, particularly in distributed applications. The main topologies used in the PV power processing system and, finally, grid connection aspects are discussed, with emphasis on synchronization, protections, and integration.

Photovoltaic Generator as an Input Source for Power Electronic Converters

A photovoltaic (PV) generator is internally a power-limited nonlinear current source having both constant-current- and constant-voltage-like properties depending on the operating point. This paper investigates the dynamic properties of a PV generator and demonstrates that it has a profound effect on the operation of the interfacing converter. The most important properties an input source should have in order to emulate a real PV generator are defined. These properties are important, since a power electronic substitute is often used in the validation process instead of a real PV generator. This paper also qualifies two commercial solar array simulators as an example in terms of the defined properties. Investigations are based on extensive practical measurements of real PV generators and the two commercial solar array simulators interfaced with dc-dc as well as three- and single-phase dc-ac converters.

Issues on Solar-Generator Interfacing With Current-Fed MPP-Tracking Converters

The large-scale harvesting of solar energy is an important action to decelerate the observed climate changes. Reliably operating solar-energy systems composing of solar arrays and their interfacing converters are of prime importance to maximize solar-energy harvesting. The paper investigates the solar-generator interfacing in terms of current-fed (CF) maximum-power-point (MPP) tracking converter. The investigations show that the CF converter under input-voltage control can usually operate from the short-circuit to open-circuit conditions of the solar generator without stability problems. When the output voltage or current has to be controlled constant, the converter may become unstable at the MPP due to the negative incremental resistance appearing at its input terminals. In practice, this means that the operating range of the CF converter has to be limited to the voltages less than the MPP voltage, when the output-voltage or current control is active. Practical evidence is provided based on a CF superbuck converter derived from the corresponding voltage-fed converter applying duality-transformation methods and supplied by an actual solar panel.

Dynamics of a buck converter with a constant power load

The dynamic properties of the buck converter with a constant power load are studied in this paper. The line-to-output and control-to-output transfer functions are derived, for voltage mode control and current mode control, in continuous conduction mode and discontinuous conduction mode. A comparison with the case of a resistive load is made in each case.

Impedance-Based Stability and Transient-Performance Assessment Applying Maximum Peak Criteria

The impedance-based stability-assessment method has turned out to be a very effective tool and its usage is rapidly growing in different applications ranging from the conventional interconnected dc/dc systems to the grid-connected renewable energy systems. The results are sometime given as a certain forbidden region in the complex plane out of which the impedance ratio--known as minor-loop gain--shall stay for ensuring robust stability. This letter discusses the circle-like forbidden region occupying minimum area in the complex plane, defined by applying maximum peak criteria, which is well-known theory in control engineering. The investigation shows that the circle-like forbidden region will ensure robust stability only if the impedance-based minor-loop gain is determined at the very input or output of each subsystem within the interconnected system. Experimental evidence is provided based on a small-scale dc/dc distributed system.

Dynamical Characterization of Peak-Current-Mode-Controlled Buck Converter With Output-Current Feedforward

The paper investigates the effect of unity-gain output-current-feedforward in a peak-current-mode-controlled (PCMC) buck converter. A consistent theoretical basis is provided showing that the unity-gain feedforward can improve significantly the load invariance and transient performance of a PCMC buck converter. The nonidealities associated to the scheme would, however, deteriorate the obtainable level of invariance. The nonidealities can be maintained at acceptable level, and therefore, the scheme would provide a viable method to reduce significantly the load interactions as well as improve the load-transient response. The theoretical predictions are supported with comprehensive experimental evidence both at frequency and time domain as well as comparisons between three different buck converters

Input filter interactions in peak-current-mode-controlled buck converter operating in CICM

Peak-current-mode (PCM) control is a widely used method to control switched-mode converters. Most often an input filter is necessary to meet electromagnetic interference requirements. The input filter can cause instability and degradation of input and output dynamics if not properly designed. The input filter design from the output dynamics viewpoint has been addressed in numerous papers, resulting in well-agreed results in the case of direct duty-ratio control. The same methods and criteria have also been applied to PCM control, but the results have turned out to be conflicting. This paper shows that the adverse effect of the input filter on the output performance of a peak-current-controlled buck converter in continuous inductor-current mode is insignificant. The input performance is, however, significantly affected, necessitating the use of proper damping. It is also shown that the instability is caused solely by the instability of the input filter under negative incremental resistance. The methods used are unified in nature, but the results obtained in this study cannot be generalized to be valid for types of converters other than a buck converter.

Determining the Value of DC-Link Capacitance to Ensure Stable Operation of a Three-Phase Photovoltaic Inverter

Grid interfacing of photovoltaic generators using three-phase inverters offers the advantage of constant power flow allowing smaller capacitance values to be used in the dc-link compared to single-phase inverters. Electrolytic capacitors, used in the dc-link, are often considered to decrease reliability. Reliability could be improved by using film capacitors, but their usage is limited by high cost and low capacitance. Much research has been done to minimize the dc-link capacitance value, particularly, in the field of drives and wind turbines. It has been shown that motor drive in regenerative mode contains a right-half-plane (RHP) pole in its control dynamics having a significant effect on the required dc-link capacitance. The RHP pole can cause instability as has been observed in wind turbine applications. Photovoltaic inverters have been reported to suffer from instability of the dc-link-voltage control, but the origin of the observed problems is poorly understood. This paper shows explicitly that an RHP pole is present in the control dynamics also in photovoltaic inverters affecting the minimum required dc-link capacitance. The paper proposes a minimum value for the dc-link capacitance that is required for stable operation. Design rules are given for single- and two-stage inverters. Moreover, it is shown that a source having constant power output effectively removes the RHP pole from the dc-link-voltage control dynamics.

Unified average and small-signal modeling of direct-on-time control

A unified and consistent method for the average and small-signal modeling of switched-mode converters under direct-on-time (DOT) or voltage mode (VM) control applicable to fixed- and variable-frequency operation in discontinuous (DCM) and continuous (CCM) modes of operation is proposed. The method is based on the direct estimation of the state-variable derivatives using their physical and circuit theoretical dependence on the corresponding circuit elements. This has been the first time that it has been explicitly recognized that the time-varying local average value of the inductor current is the state variable instead of the instantaneous current being also continuous within a cycle regardless of the operation mode. The method provides a common basis for the average modeling of VM control and leads eventually to the well-recognized results obtained using state-space averaging (SSA) in CCM or its modified version in DCM under fixed-frequency operation as well as accurate full-order models also in the variable-frequency operation. In addition, the method known as unterminated modeling is introduced, providing a useful tool for the dynamic analysis of switched-mode converters.

Charge–discharge behaviour of VRLA batteries: model calibration and application for state estimation and failure detection

Abstract The dynamic behaviour of batteries can be predicted using theoretical cell model for basic processes. In this paper, this model is calibrated for two types of valve regulated lead acid (VRLA) batteries, and is applied for viewing unobservable processes in battery by observable processes. It is shown that unobservable parameters like overpotential, reaction rate, porosity, acid concentration, and other parameters of electrode can be evaluated by total current, terminal voltage and temperature of surrounding atmosphere of battery. The calibrated model is applied to distinguish between outwardly equal batteries with different backup time and cut-off time. It is shown that difference in morphology of electrodes, thickness of electrodes and quantity of electrolyte in separator are the main distinguishing parameters between batteries. These parameters can be tested online by current–voltage measurements using fast calculation method proposed in this paper.